4th Alderman Indicted In Silver Shovel

U.s. Alleges That 12th Ward's Frias Took A Bribe

Former state Rep. Rafael "Ray" Frias had just allegedly agreed to take $500 a week to back a phony minority-owned business enterprise, when John Christopher, a corrupt waste hauler, grew philosophical.

"Why do you think you're a legislator for?" Christopher asked in his fractured English.

"There's no politicians in this world that I know that don't do `give me this and I'll give you that,' " responded Christopher, who the government says was secretly recording the conversation.

FOR THE RECORD - The first name of Tribune Staff Writer Jacquelyn Heard was misspelled in this story, as originally published.

"That's the name of the game," the government quoted Frias as saying.

On Tuesday, Frias, 36, now an alderman from the West Side 12th Ward, became the latest politician to be ensnared by Christopher and Operation Silver Shovel, the ongoing federal probe of public corruption.

He was charged in a three-count indictment with pocketing a single $500 bribe and attempting to extort an additional $25,000 to help finance a future campaign for Congress.

"Today's indictment describes yet another sad example of political corruption in which favors and influence were exchanged for cash under the table," U.S. Atty. Jim Burns said of the fourth alderman to be charged so far in the probe.

Frias' lawyer, David Stetler, vowed a court fight, declaring, "Ray Frias never put his office up for sale. On the contrary, he was approached by a criminal who's acting in concert with the federal government," in a reference to Christopher. ". . . Now the government has manipulated a single alleged payment of $500 into three felony counts. The indictment is replete with distortions, mischaracterizations and selective quotations."

While still a Chicago tactical police officer in 1992, Frias was elected to the state legislature after reapportionment created a new Hispanic district on Chicago's West Side. In 1995, he won election to the City Council from one of three newly created Hispanic wards.

The indictment alleged Frias agreed to help Christopher improperly obtain certification as a minority-owned business even though he knew Christopher, who is white, owned the company, known as TEKA.

According to the charges, former Ald. Ambrosio Medrano introduced the two men in October 1994. Medrano pleaded guilty to charges stemming from Silver Shovel early last year and is serving a 2 1/2-year sentence in prison.

At that initial meeting with Medrano and Christopher, Frias agreed to take $500 a week, the indictment charged, and three days later, according to the charges, took a $500 payoff from an undercover FBI agent posing as Christopher's business associate.

In early November 1994, Christopher sought Frias' help in locating a rock-crusher in the 12th Ward, and according to the government, that was when Frias expressed interest in receiving a large lump sum in the future instead of more weekly payments.

" . . . I want to help you in a big way," Frias was quoted as telling Christopher. "Because in 18 months, I am gonna need help in a big way."

"In a big way to you," replied Christopher. "Twenty-five thousand is a big way to you?"

"That's, that's pretty big," Frias said.

After Silver Shovel broke publicly in early 1996 and his name surfaced as a target, Frias dropped a primary challenge to U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez.

The two other Chicago aldermen indicted so far in the probe are former Alds. Allan Streeter (17th) and Jesse Evans (21st). Streeter pleaded guilty and is cooperating with federal authorities. Evans pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial May 19.

Frias was also charged with lying to two FBI agents who confronted him in January 1996 about his dealings with Christopher.

Mayor Richard Daley's press secretary, Jim Williams, in cautioning that Frias has only been indicted at this point, commented, "We'll have to see how it comes out in court."